Name: ___________________ Section: __________ radio, and the idea of a human traveling into outer space is just

February 14, 2019 plain crazy!

1. What is the prefix in the word foresaw?

Uncle Wilbur A. fore
My uncle Wilbur used to spend hours every day B. saw
checking on the lightning rods that stood guard on the C. for
roof of his house. We get a lot of storms here in our D. aw
state. Sometimes we see wind up to sixty miles per hour
and baseball-size hail. Lightning, Uncle Wilbur would 2. Which phrase is an example of personification?
say, is a living thing, and like a cat, it will strike A. lightning rods standing guard
anything that moves. You’d better not tempt it, he B. dismissed the automobile as a passing fancy
C. string power lines up to the house
always told us. He advised my cousins and me to always
D. idea of a human traveling into outer space
be mindful of the nearest sheltering tree. He said we
should be prepared to drop to the ground like a hot 3. How would Uncle Wilbur feel about cellular phones?
potato at the first sound of thunder. Knowing that A. fearful
lightning is attracted to the tallest thing around, Uncle B. distrustful
Wilbur worried constantly about my cousin Jared, who, C. welcoming
at sixteen, was 6’2” and still growing. D. indifferent
Uncle Wilbur has always been a smart man. We
all listened as he dismissed the automobile as a passing 4. Compared to Uncle Wilbur, how does the narrator feel
fancy. Every year it seemed more and more Model Ts toward modern advancements?
A. resisting
came rolling into town, but Uncle
B. accepting
Wilbur insisted that nothing could replace the reliability C. uncertain
of a good old-fashioned mule when it came to D. exhilarated
transportation, work, or even entertainment. Yes, Uncle
Wilbur’s Mule Olympics, complete with 5. Which reason explains why the author wrote about Uncle
obstacle courses and a long jump, was known far and Wilbur?
wide. Sadly, the Mule Olympics did not survive into the A. to explain him
next decade because the mules got too old and lost B. to pacify him
interest. Nonetheless, my uncle Wilbur continued to C. to remember him
predict future trends and warn us of impending tragedy. D. to persuade him
To this day, he reminds us that he foresaw the stock
6. Which pair of words best describe how the narrator most
market crash of 1929, and that’s why he kept his money likely feels about Uncle Wilbur?
wrapped in a handkerchief under his mattress. When the A. annoyed and frustrated
government started collecting income B. respectful and amused
taxes a few years back, Uncle Wilbur reluctantly shared C. sad and indifferent
his wealth with Uncle Sam, insisting that the money was D. envious and distrustful
just a temporary loan.
Uncle Wilbur did not take kindly to the power company 7. What BEST describes the passage?
man who came knocking one day in 1936. This was the A. a character sketch
year the government launched a campaign to bring B. a factual research
C. a persuasive essay
electricity to rural areas like ours.
D. a news article
Most people, like Uncle Wilbur, were a little wary of
having electricity in their homes. Many of us had
The Happiness Effect
Happiness may be the primary goal of human existence.
running water, and we just weren’t sure that the two Philosophers have wrestled with the concept of happiness.
mixed. Nevertheless, Uncle Wilbur was Legislators create laws to support citizens’ rights to pursue
downright floored when the man said he wanted to string happiness. Television, radio, and print advertisers assure
power lines up to the house. Nearly losing his temper, consumers that various products will guarantee happiness.
Uncle Wilbur exclaimed, “Here I am doing everything in Interestingly, people have a tendency to believe they are
my power to keep from getting happier than their neighbors, and they are optimistic about
struck by lightning, and you want to bring it right to my their happiness in the future. Most people assume that they
doorstep?” He sent the man on his way with a “No, will be happier a decade from now than they are today.
thank you,” and a “Good day, sir,” but in the months that Clearly, everyone from writers and philosophers to legislators
and the average person on the street thinks a great deal about
followed, we all eventually relented
happiness. What makes happiness so important to human
and let in the light. I must admit, playing checkers in the existence?
dark is a talent you can easily lose without daily Why Be Happy?
practice. Not only does happiness feel good, but it appears to provide a
Many things have changed since those times. variety of psychological and physical benefits. Happiness
Uncle Wilbur still lives in mortal fear of a lightning plays a significant role in enhancing good health,
strike, but because he doesn’t get out much anymore, strengthening the immune system,
most of his lightning rods have rusted through promoting longevity, improving productivity and
and fallen to the ground. Uncle Wilbur lives mostly on performance, and increasing resilience. Happy people work
Social Security, which he proudly proclaims as his hard, play hard, have an active social life (and a social
conscience), experience good health, and live longer. A happy
victory (see, he says, the government did eventually give
person lives an average of nine years longer than a miserable
his money back). He probably spends one.
more time reminiscing about the past than he does
making future predictions, but Uncle Wilbur will be the
first to tell you that television will never be as popular as
The Opposite of Happiness
4 When studying happiness, it makes sense that its
opposite condition would also be a topic of examination.
Scientists have observed that there are two unfortunate
life events that induce profound
unhappiness, perhaps over the course of many years: the
loss of a spouse and the loss of a job.
What Causes Happiness?
However, good news abounds in the study of happiness.
Fortunately, humans experience happiness from a wide
range of stimuli, from traveling to an exotic destination
to redecorating one’s home or from
winning a game of soccer to eating a delicious meal. Simply
watching a favorite television show or laughing at a funny
joke can boost a depressed mood. While the happiness
produced by such experiences tends to be short lived, certain
conditions do promote a more long-lasting and durable state of
happiness as a lifestyle: a wide social network, believing in a
meaningful reason for one’s existence, and establishing goals
and working to achieve them.
With a Little Help from My Friends
Surprisingly, income is not a primary factor in determining a
person’s level of happiness once the basic needs of food,
clothing, and shelter have been met. More important is one’s
social network. Being
socially active may be more effective in increasing one’s
immunity to illness than a vaccine. Misery may love company,
but so does happiness, and having close friends and family is
vital to one’s overall level of happiness. (If friends and family
are crucial, so is a loving partner. Research suggests that being
married increases one’s potential for happiness.) Even sharing
one’s home with an animal companion can make a person
happier.
Why Am I Here?
Scientists report that believing in some kind of meaning for
one’s life is necessary to living a happy life. This may be a
religion, a code of ethics, a particular value system, a
philosophy, or any other reason
for being that lifts people out of the mundane routine of daily
existence and gives their life meaning beyond a weekly
paycheck.
The Habit of Happiness
Happiness is not an innate characteristic but may actually be
developed as a habit. Scientists suggest that incorporating new
habits and practices can go a long way in increasing one’s
state of happiness.While people generally do not transform
their basic temperaments, people can learn to become happier
by
participating in a variety of activities, including socializing,
watching funny movies or reading funny books, keeping a
gratitude journal (writing a daily list of three to five things for
which one is grateful),
involving oneself in pleasurable activities, such as sports,
hobbies, or the arts, focusing on positive outcomes, and
performing acts of kindness for others. Apparently, doing
something to make someone elsehappy will make you happy,
too.
Reasons to Smile
Smiling…
is contagious.
relieves stress.
improves your mood.
helps you stay positive.
lowers your blood pressure.
attracts other people to you.
makes you appear confident.
boosts your immune system.
8. In the section Why Be Happy?, why does the author
include parentheses around “and a social
conscience”?
A. to point out that social conscience leads to good health
B. to emphasize the importance of playing and working hard
C. to point out that having a social conscience can
promote longevity
D. to emphasize the importance of social conscience as a part
of an active social life
9. What change occurs as a result of adding the prefix un- to
fortunate in paragraph 4?
A. the word becomes more intense
B. the word becomes less intense
C. the word takes on the opposite meaning
D. the word takes on a different part of speech
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10. Which statement summarizes the heading What Causes
Happiness?
A. A wide social network is the key to happiness.
B. Laughing at funny jokes helps to lift a gloomy mood.
C. Scientists conclude that good news leads to long-lasting
happiness.
D. Both short- and long-term happiness are caused by a
variety of experiences.
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11. In the section With a Little Help from My Friends, why
does the author use the phrase “misery
may love company”?
A. to convince people that pets are better company than a
loving partner
B. to encourage people to find mates for their friends who are
unhappy
C. to point out that people will be happier with positive
relationships
D. to recommend that people try to influence negative people
in a positive way
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12. What is one assumption the author makes about attaining
happiness?
A. Some people find comfort in mundane routines.
B. A person needs a social network to attain happiness.
C. Reading and writing about your problems will produce
happiness.
D. Convincing negative people to become positive is a life
goal.
13. In the section The Habit of Happiness, what does the
word innate mean?
A. natural and existing
B. incomplete and building
C. absent and unfamiliar
D. learned and habitual
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14. Which statement is an opinion?
A. Happiness is not a physical characteristic.
B. Legislators create laws to support happiness.
C. Happiness may be the primary goal of human existence.
D. Advertisers use happiness to promote their products.